4Fixes: iTunes Cannot Restore iPhone Not Enough Space on Computer

Problem: iTunes Cannot Restore iPhone Not Enough Space on Computer

To prevent data loss, most of us would like to backup iPhone data in advance. iCloud and iTunes are the official backup method. However, iCloud only provides 5 GB of free storage space to store all iOS data which is far from enough. So you choose to backup iPhone with iTunes.

Now for some reason, maybe you want to restore the iPhone to fix iOS issue or you may want to restore backup to new iPhone to realize data transmission. However, the problem occurs. A pop-up window appears and says that iTunes cannot restore iPhone not enough space on computer. Well, this is a problem that often occurs when restoring an iTunes backup. Take it easy, you will know how to figure it out in this guide.

How to Fix iTunes Cannot Restore iPhone Not Enough Space on Computer

Here are 4 solutions to help you get rid of “iTunes could not restore iPhone because not enough free space on computer” error message.

Solution 1. Restart Your Computer and iPhone

This is a simple trick you can always have a try when you meet any problem. Disconnect your iPhone and restart your computer and iPhone. Then run iTunes again to have a try. If it does not work, try other methods below.

Solution 2. Free up Space

Since iTunes says it cannot restore iPhone because there is not enough free space on computer, you can delete some needless or old files to free up hard drive space.

- Delete corrupted backups:

The fact is when restoring a backup to iPhone, iTunes will extract the backup library and another new folder with a time stamp to the end of the backup library will be created during the restore process.

If you have tried to restore the backup multiple times, then multiple libraries with time stamp at the end of the library will be created and it will consume your storage space. Even if the backup fails, the folder will not be removed automatically. So you should delete those folders manually to free up space.

△ Go to the iTunes backup location to have a check, if you see some folders with the time stamp to the end, just delete them. You can also delete some old backups if you are sure you will never need them.

For PC: \Users\(username)\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\

For Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/

- Delete duplicate photos:

There is one iOS data manager called FoneTool and its Photo Deduplication feature can help you quickly delete all duplicate and similar photos on your computer.

1. Download, install and launch FoneTool.

2. Now choose Toolbox on the left window > choose Photo Deduplication.

3. Select Scan Computer option.

4. Click Add Folder to select the folder that contains your photos and click Start scanning to find duplicate photos.

5. When the scanning is finished, it will list all the duplicate photos on your computer  > Select the unwanted photos and click Delete button to remove duplicate photos.

Solution 3. Update iTunes to the Latest Version

ITunes cannot restore iPhone not enough space on computer error may also occur if you have installed an outdated version of iTunes. The old version of iTunes can cause many problems.

Click Help on the menu bar on Windows or click iTunes on Mac > Select Check for Updates to have a check. If there’s a version, follow the prompts to install the latest version of iTunes.

Solution 4. Check the USB Connection

The restoration requires a safe and stable connection. It’s recommended to use the Apple-certified USB cable. Please make sure the USB port is working correctly.

- Try another USB port.

- Directly connect your iPhone to the computer instead of using the attached keyboard or USB hub.

Bonus Tip: An Easy Way to Backup and Restore iPhone

The above are all solutions you can try to fix the iTunes cannot restore iPhone not enough space on computer error. If you are lucky, you may get out of trouble. But even though you solve the problem this time, you may meet other errors next time. So why not try another easy way to backup iPhone?

To avoid annoying iTunes errors in the future, you can try the previously mentioned FoneTool. It’s a great iTunes alternative for iPhone backup and restore, these are its outstanding features.

● It has a user-friendly interface that makes it possible for everyone to handle. ● It lets you first preview and then select the data you need before the backup and restore. ● The backup files are accessible so you can view the backup anytime you want. ● When performing the restore, there is no need to reset your iPhone and it will not erase any existing data.

→ The Selective Backup makes it possible to backup your most important photos, music, contacts, etc. It will help you save storage space so that you will not meet "iTunes cannot restore iPhone not enough space on computer" problem.

→ In addition, you can also take advantage of Full Backup to backup all content and settings in one click.

→ Besides backup and restore, FoneTool also supports transfer between iPhone/iPad and computer, between two iPhones. You can let it help you transfer purchased and non purchased items without effort. 

In a word, FoneTool can help you always put important data in the right place. Go for it now and discover more by yourself!

Conclusion

That’s all for how to fix the iTunes cannot restore iPhone not enough space on computer error. Does this passage solve your problem? If so, you could share it to help more people. Or if you have any other ideas, just leave a comment to tell us.

FAQs to iTunes cannot restore iPhone no enough space on computer

How much space do I need on my computer to restore my iPhone using iTunes?

• The amount of space required to restore your iPhone using iTunes varies depending on factors such as the size of your iPhone backup, the amount of data being restored, and the available space on your computer. It's advisable to have several gigabytes of free space to ensure a smooth restoration process.

Can I use an external hard drive to store iPhone backups and avoid this error?

• Yes, you can use an external hard drive to store iPhone backups and avoid running out of space on your computer. You can change the iTunes backup location to an external drive by following specific steps provided by Apple's support documentation.

Is it possible to selectively restore specific data from my iPhone backup to conserve space?

• Yes, iTunes allows you to selectively restore specific data from your iPhone backup rather than restoring the entire backup. This can help conserve space on your computer and expedite the restoration process. However, keep in mind that some data may be interdependent, so be cautious when selecting which data to restore.

Does this error only occur with iTunes, or can it happen with Finder as well?

• This error can occur with both iTunes (on macOS Mojave and earlier) and Finder (on macOS Catalina and later) since they both manage iPhone backups and restorations. Regardless of the software used, the error indicates a lack of available space on your computer for the restoration process.